<p>The growing trend of ‘fake shaadi’ parties has reached Bengaluru. These ticketed events recreate the aesthetics and energy of a big fat Indian wedding — minus the bride, groom, and rituals. Think ethnic dress codes, mehendi and bangle counters, grand arches, ornate stages, floral decor, diyas, rangolis, dhols, DJs playing Bollywood music, and a spread of food and drinks. These are largely attended by Gen Z.</p>.<p>Last month, the city hosted two such events where the cover charge (redeemable) ranged from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000.</p>.<p>‘10s Only Szn: Big Fat Fake Wedding’, held on June 1 at a star hotel on Vittal Mallya Road, drew 1,300 guests. The poolside party was decked with flowers and featured photo booths, bangle and henna tattoo counters, food stalls, and a bar. Three DJs and several dhol players were a major attraction. An unoccupied seating area for the ‘bride and groom’ became the focal point for guests striking mock ‘Just Married’ poses. Most attendees, aged 23-28, had turned up in saris, lehengas, and kurta-pyjamas. “One guest came in a sherwani, likely imitating a groom,” said Madhur Rao, cofounder and CTO of 8Club, the Bengaluru-based offline social events company that organised the party.</p>.Metrolife: Weddings with English themes.<p class="bodytext">Rao called the ‘fake shaadi’ phenomenon a “cultural reimagining of how people are meeting each other beyond cafes, clubs, and dating apps”. Most attendees, he noted, were new-to-the-city migrants looking to connect.</p>.<p class="bodytext">That same day, another wedding-themed party, ‘One Love: Shaadi Mubaarak Edition’, was held at a restaurant and bar in Koramangala and attracted a crowd of about 250. It was curated for the queer community and their allies to mark the start of Pride Month. The guests were welcomed with a tilak (vermillion mark) on their foreheads. The evening featured a baraat-style dance floor, shaadi-themed games, henna counters, and drag performances inspired by sangeet nights, with performers entering under a ‘phoolon ki chaadar’ (floral canopy).</p>.<p class="bodytext">Vaibhav Kumar Modi, one of the night’s three curators, said that in a country where queer marriage is still a contested space, the party was a “humble attempt to give queer persons a taste of the shaadi experience”, minus the judgement often found at real weddings.</p>.From the pitch to the aisle: Tamil Nadu couple's CSK themed wedding goes viral.<p class="bodytext">Modi, founder of the Hyderabad-based Dark Vibe Society, which curates inclusive experiences, went on to add, “In India, queerness is still seen by many as a foreign concept. But us attending such a party is a showcase of how desi we can get.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rao said 10-15 people in Bengaluru have expressed interest in hosting these ‘fake shaadi’ parties. Even Modi is getting similar requests.</p>
<p>The growing trend of ‘fake shaadi’ parties has reached Bengaluru. These ticketed events recreate the aesthetics and energy of a big fat Indian wedding — minus the bride, groom, and rituals. Think ethnic dress codes, mehendi and bangle counters, grand arches, ornate stages, floral decor, diyas, rangolis, dhols, DJs playing Bollywood music, and a spread of food and drinks. These are largely attended by Gen Z.</p>.<p>Last month, the city hosted two such events where the cover charge (redeemable) ranged from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000.</p>.<p>‘10s Only Szn: Big Fat Fake Wedding’, held on June 1 at a star hotel on Vittal Mallya Road, drew 1,300 guests. The poolside party was decked with flowers and featured photo booths, bangle and henna tattoo counters, food stalls, and a bar. Three DJs and several dhol players were a major attraction. An unoccupied seating area for the ‘bride and groom’ became the focal point for guests striking mock ‘Just Married’ poses. Most attendees, aged 23-28, had turned up in saris, lehengas, and kurta-pyjamas. “One guest came in a sherwani, likely imitating a groom,” said Madhur Rao, cofounder and CTO of 8Club, the Bengaluru-based offline social events company that organised the party.</p>.Metrolife: Weddings with English themes.<p class="bodytext">Rao called the ‘fake shaadi’ phenomenon a “cultural reimagining of how people are meeting each other beyond cafes, clubs, and dating apps”. Most attendees, he noted, were new-to-the-city migrants looking to connect.</p>.<p class="bodytext">That same day, another wedding-themed party, ‘One Love: Shaadi Mubaarak Edition’, was held at a restaurant and bar in Koramangala and attracted a crowd of about 250. It was curated for the queer community and their allies to mark the start of Pride Month. The guests were welcomed with a tilak (vermillion mark) on their foreheads. The evening featured a baraat-style dance floor, shaadi-themed games, henna counters, and drag performances inspired by sangeet nights, with performers entering under a ‘phoolon ki chaadar’ (floral canopy).</p>.<p class="bodytext">Vaibhav Kumar Modi, one of the night’s three curators, said that in a country where queer marriage is still a contested space, the party was a “humble attempt to give queer persons a taste of the shaadi experience”, minus the judgement often found at real weddings.</p>.From the pitch to the aisle: Tamil Nadu couple's CSK themed wedding goes viral.<p class="bodytext">Modi, founder of the Hyderabad-based Dark Vibe Society, which curates inclusive experiences, went on to add, “In India, queerness is still seen by many as a foreign concept. But us attending such a party is a showcase of how desi we can get.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rao said 10-15 people in Bengaluru have expressed interest in hosting these ‘fake shaadi’ parties. Even Modi is getting similar requests.</p>